Thursday

February 6, 2024

 

            It’s only been a week but we have already seen and felt God’s hand at work.  As we read more about merkel cell carcinoma, the importance of early detection was evident.  We can’t be sure how early mine was caught, but we do know that it could have lingered inside of me for much longer.  Originally, we thought it was a cyst and my dermatologist gave me the option to remove it or live with it.  Over the weeks between first appointment and removal, I considered just living with the “cyst.” A small voice inside my head kept telling me, get rid of it and so I did.  Thank you, God.  If it was still in me, the damage it might have done would have been catastrophic.

            We shared the news with our fellowship group Thursday night and started sharing the news with family and friends on Friday.  There are many people who dismiss the concept of “thoughts and prayers” these days, but when you are on the receiving end of them, they mean so much.  Cathy and I are so grateful for the love and prayers that are being sent our way, and it is both humbling and empowering to know that so many people are caring about you and lifting your name before the Lord.

            Friday I was blessed by God to find my theme song for this season of life.  I went for a walk around the neighborhood and decided to listen to music instead of a sports radio show.  The first song was a smooth jazz number that gave me a moment to relax but the second song was “Lift it Up” by City Harbor. If you are unfamiliar with the song, look it up and listen. It almost had me in tears at that moment and has become a consistent reminder to turn over any cares and concerns to God and trust that there will be positive outcomes.

Jeremiah 29:11

     For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

            More things happened this week that reinforced that God was walking us through this. We were able to make an appointment with the surgical oncologist on Wednesday. Her name is Dr. Thuy Tran with UCI medical center.  Turns out she has worked on merkel cell carcinoma patients before, about 10 a year.  She is also doing research on the disease and writing a paper about it. She was wonderful, had a great bedside manner, and even though she was blunt and realistic about everything, we left feeling confident.  She wouldn’t let us leave without a hug and told us she would be our new best friend over the next few years as I would have regular appointments and check-ups with her. We were impressed with UCI Medical Center.  That same day we were able to get an EKG, blood work, and a chest X-ray. The blood work included one test that was going to be sent to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Washington, one of the country’s leading cancer institutions.  The next day the surgery was scheduled for Friday, February 21st.  The surgeon will go back to the original site to completely clear it out and check lymph nodes in the area. We are just waiting right now for insurance approval for a PET scan and brain MRI.  Dr. Tran wants to check if there are merkel cell cancers in any other parts of my body.

            We learned there are two possible treatments moving forward.  If the cancer is localized to the one spot, they will cut it out and then I will have a series of radiation treatments in the months following.  If the cancer has become more of a systemic problem, then there will be a type of chemotherapy, immunotherapy.  They will enhance my immune system to fight off the cancer (it can start from a virus). That can be problematic for me because I’m on immunosuppressant drugs for ulcerative colitis.  One problem at a time, we'll deal with that potential issue later.  

            People are asking how I’m doing, and I can honestly say great, both physically and mentally.  There is nothing about this, right now, that affects me physically in any way.  No pains, no troubles, no malfunctions. Mentally I’m fine, too.  God has given me great peace over this, and I’m just taking things one step at a time.  I can’t control anything, so I’ve put myself in my doctors’ hands, and God’s hands, and I’ve put my doctors in God’s hands, too.  My prayer is “6 minutes, 6 hours, 6 days, 6 months, 6 years, or 26 years (90 was the original goal), I will accept whatever your (God's) plan is. I will enjoy every moment, share lots of love, and follow your will for my life, doing what I can for your kingdom.”

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